Paris-born Sarah Guyard-Guillot was pronounced dead late Saturday night after falling about 50 feet from the show’s stage during a performance at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
According to reports, the acrobatic performer was being hoisted up the side of the stage when it appeared that she slipped free of her safety wire and plummeted to an open pit below the stage. Some audience thought it was a part of the show but after they heard screaming and groaning, they realized that it was a freak accident.
The crowd was dismissed afterwards with promise of refunds or vouchers to future shows as the production came to a halt after the accident.
This is the first time in Cirque du Soleil’s 30 years of existence that a performer died during the show.
Watch the news report here: